TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the statewide number of private sector jobs increased 1,700 from December 2020.  Florida’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in January 2021, down from the revised December rate of 5.1 percent.  Florida’s labor force was up 25,000, a growth of 0.2 percentage point over the month.

The West Palm Beach area’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in January, down from 14.7 percent reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. Professional and business services was the only major industry to gain jobs over the year, increasing by 3,400 jobs. The West Palm Beach area private sector employment decreased by 28,400 jobs, a decline of 4.9 percent over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 14,700 jobs. 

To view the January 2021 employment data, visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.  

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